The U2 bassist's former aide, Carol Hawkins, has denied taking the huge sum from the 52-year-old rocker in a plot involving 181 cheques over a four-year period.

Prosecutor Colm O'Briain told the Circuit Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday (07.06.12) that Adam made her a signatory to his bank accounts, describing the case as a ''grubby'' breach of trust.

He said: ''Mr Clayton placed a substantial amount of trust in her. He is as entitled as any other to place his trust in people.''

Carol, 48, is accused of stealing the money between 2004 and 2008 - including one single withdrawal of 310,000 Euros - whilst earning 48,000 Euros a year and living rent-free in the 'With Or Without You' star's home in Rathfarnham, Dublin.

The funds were allegedly placed in three separate accounts - her own personal account, a joint account between herself and her husband, and a Bank of Ireland Credit Card Services account.

The court heard that Adam - whose bandmates are Bono, The Edge and Larry Mullen Jr. - also paid a joint monthly salary to his PA and her former husband John, who also lived at the property, and continued to pay Carol the same sum when she split from her spouse.

Carol, who worked for Adam for a total of 16 years and was initially hired as his housekeeper before being promoted to personal assistant, denies the charges.